JOIN USAll for some spirited biking
They are four friends who would initially meet up and go for bike rides, unaware that one day, the group would grow into a club of 500 members. Arvin Padmanabha, the founder of ‘Bulleteer-Royal Enfield Club Bangalore’, started it with his friends Hari Krishna, Visak and Sunil P Thomas in 2008.
Today, it is home to many Royal Enfield motorcycle enthusiasts, both men and women.
“We started riding for fun but slowly, we had people joining us and the club grew bigger. We are primarily into three-day and one-day rides during the weekends. As of now, we have completed 13 volumes (rides), with 85 to 90 people on each ride. We have covered the entire south India and also Nepal, Leh and Bhutan in the northern part,” says Arvin.
Around 300 people are active members of the group. Arvin says that the women riders in the group are also quite eager and passionate. Before any ride, the members are briefed about it and the things they need to keep in mind and carry with them. “We always ride together and make sure that no one drinks and rides. We aim to change the notion that all bike clubs are meant for racing. We have a backup vehicle with a mechanic and a doctor who travel with us as well,” explains Arvin.
The club sees an increase in the number of riders with every ride. Unlike other bike clubs, the group meets only once in six months and whenever they meet, it’s also with a purpose to give back something to society. During their last ride, they painted a school and offered lunch to orphaned kids. Sometimes, they clean up a tourist spot they ride to or paint a badly maintained bus stop.
“We would like to ride to the North East and are also planning a trip to Thailand and Burma,” he says.
Ashwin Nair, who owns a Bullet since 1998, has been a part of the club since six years. “‘Bulleteer’ was exactly what I was looking for. My first ride was really memorable. It was the first time I mingled with so many new people. My trip to Nepal in 2013 — more than 3000 km — was also wonderful,” says Ashwin.
Another active member of the group, Dileep Krishnagowda, has been with the club since its inception. He says, “I respect the principles they follow as a group. But there are no rigid rules and regulations. In fact, the point of this club is to ride together, meet like-minded people and have a good time, while keeping in mind one’s own safety and that of fellow riders.” His second ride, he recalls, was the best till now, when the group rode for three days continuously in the rain. He says, “Riding in the rain was challenging and it was during this ride that we got to know each other more closely.”
Dilip Reddy says, “Chikkamagaluru, Coorg, Ooty, Hampi and Wayanad are some of the places I have been to with the group. It was during the ride to Hampi when the idea of involving some kind of social activity brewed in the group.”
The group doesn’t encourage students to ride along, as they can be erratic on the roads. The age group in the club is 30 and above.
Gautam Kini, another active member, says that even though they have fun, everyone knows their limits during the rides. “We go for two rides a year, one during the monsoon and the other during winters. There is rule that people who ride with us have to become members. They can join other clubs if they wish to. I am a rider and I love Royal Enfield bikes and this club was just what I wanted,” says Gautam.
(The club can be contacted at 9845382953)